Keyser, WV – The Monroe University baseball team split its Sunday doubleheader at Potomac State College. The Mustangs took home game one of the two-game set, 4-2, before falling to the Catamounts, 9-3, in game two to split the day's set of games and the overall weekend.
Monroe showed off its grit on Saturday and that trend continued into the first game of the doubleheader. Sophomore
Brailyn Cruz delivered the second complete game in as many games with seven efficient innings. He struck out eight while yielding just one earned run on six hits.
Cruz got some early support through fellow sophomore
Ronald Almanzar, as the Bronx native singled in two runs to put the first runs of the game on the board. While the Catamounts would tie it up in the following two innings, Monroe's power arrived when it needed to.
In the sixth inning, freshman
Juan Garcia launched a no-doubter to left field to put the Mustangs up 4-2. Cruz did the rest as he struck out four of the remaining six outs.
Game two was all Potomac State late as the Mustangs ran out of juice.
Freshman
Derek Lebron drove in two runs in the second on a triple down the right field line, but Monroe's 2-1 lead was short-lived as Potomac State reclaimed the advantage in the next frame.
Sophomore
Anthony Fernandez — who recorded his 100th career hit earlier in the contest on a double — roped a solo home run in the seventh inning to conclude his spectacular weekend. But it was not nearly enough to close the gap as Monroe split the weekend series, 2-2.
The Region 20 Tournament awaits, with Monroe's opponent to be determined. Game one of the double elimination tournament will either be played at 11:00 am or 2:00 pm on Friday.
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE UNIVERSITY
The athletic program at Monroe University encompasses a total of 26 teams competing across nine sports. There are 19 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as the Monroe University marching band, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, has seven teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level.
For more information about the Monroe Mustangs, please visit us at
www.MonroeUMustangs.com or follow us on social media: Facebook (
Monroe Mustangs Athletics), Twitter (
@MonroeMustangs) and Instagram (
@monroemustangs).
